Have you ever heard of the Disney Parks Blog? Did you know that you can follow any official (and I take ‘official’ seriously because there’s merit to that word) Disney news and information by connecting with Disney Parks on Social Media? These social media outlets are where you will read about factual information so you can form your own opinion based on your personal needs and likes. Many enthusiastic contributors through many hours of dedication, create entertaining and pleasingly informative posts filled with news and photos that bring ‘happy’ news straight to you.

Through these social media platforms be prepared to connect and hear all about what’s new, what’s re-imagined and what’s on the horizon from the colourful palette steered by The Walt Disney Company at the 2018 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration – from what I feel is the ‘most Magical & Happiest’ conference this year! This conference will take place at Walt Disney World Resort placing paying attendees at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort – (which itself is undergoing a massive re-imagination, so stay tuned), followed by a sailing on the third ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Dream.

I will be sharing official news during my attendance, as well as posting, at times, my personal experience (not opinions) as a parent travelling with a special needs teenage son, mostly in part to help other people in my similar situation understand the value and benefits of vacationing at the Disney Parks, Resorts and Destinations, so that, hopefully, one day soon, they too, may experience life-changing moments at “The Most Magical Place on Earth” at Walt Disney World Resort, “The Happiest Place on Earth” at Disneyland Resort, or where, “There’s Something for Everyone” sailing with Disney Cruise Line.

Those that have followed me on social media, know that for years, I have been diligently and consistently sharing the Disney brand throughout all my social media outlets, multiple times daily (not only when I believe it will benefit me) but because I have a passion for this brand and all that it has done to positively impact my family, especially my son. Testament to this, is that we’ve visited both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort a combined 45 times, sailed with Disney Cruise Line 12 times on all four ships in the fleet, including a Mediterranean sailing, toured The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank California and have visited Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai’i all since 1998. We definitely love experiencing “The Disney Difference”!

Thank you and get ready for the “Most Magical & Happiest News on Earth” with the 2018 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration!

Andrew would never tolerate wearing anything on his wrist in the early days, so when the whole Disney MagicBand system came about I knew I had to do something and not resort to relying on my Theme Park Admission Cards for fear of losing them. Not only that, taking them out of my wallet every time was something I really didn’t need to do. I also didn’t want to exclude him from wearing a MagicBand by carrying his. Andrew needed to learn, so I began with ‘first and then’ using the attraction visuals I could pull up with My Disney Experience mobile app. I would show Andrew the attraction photo paired with the actual MagicBand, because I knew he loved the attraction – thereby he would associate the MagicBand with ‘good things’. From there, I phased in ‘first MagicBand, then attraction’ with an immediate, tangible reinforcer – his ‘in a million pieces Oreo cookie’ from which I would give him a snippet so he wouldn’t be emptying an entire bag of Oreo’s – see where I’m going? Repeated trials? Many. Was it worth it? Yes. He eventually tolerated and wore the MagicBand. Today, he wears two MagicBands, one on each wrist – that’s how much he loves them!

Disney Parks has also helped us out a great deal with their FastPass+ Service at Walt Disney World Resort because we can book 3 select attractions for each Theme Park, each day, 30-days before our scheduled visit, or, 60-days before our select Disney Resort hotel reservation check-in date. All this is linked to our MagicBands (after we associate our Disney Resort hotel reservation to our Disney account) and managed with My Disney Experience online and through the My Disney Experience mobile app. So now, Andrew can see what his day will look like by viewing our FastPass+ selections, dining reservations, shows and much more, for each day of our visit, which resembles his daily schedule board at home. It’s a perfect ‘first & then’ scenario and Disney got it just right! There are a lot of dedicated folks behind the scenes, doing a lot of research and working really hard.

Then, to make things even better for Andrew – Disney Parks offers Services for Guests with Cognitive Disabilities in efforts to afford all Guests an inclusive and enjoyable experience. A plethora of services are offered with special needs Guests in mind, and if you need any help you can stop by Guest Relations inside any of the four Theme Parks and speak with a Cast Member, who will help you select the service that’s best for you or your family member. This is one of the many reasons we keep coming back – all of these services have assisted and fostered Andrew’s developmental growth over the course of our vacations, bringing him even closer to us and affording him the chance to experience true, sincere happiness.

Andrew is now able to look at all of our FastPass+ selections and direct us to the respective attraction. He is able to approach the FastPass+ queue, wait his turn and tap his MagicBand to the Mickey Touch-Point. He loves it when the light spins green (that’s a totally sensory-driven thing) which gets him all excited and thus reinforcing in itself!

I couldn’t be more honoured in receiving the coveted invitation to attend the 2018 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration in February!

This is the ‘Most Magical Social Media Conference’ of the year and takes place at Walt Disney World Resort and with Disney Cruise Line, sailing on the Disney Dream, the third ship in the fleet and sister ship to the Disney Fantasy. Read all about Disney Cruise Line Awards & Honors such as Best for Families by the 2016 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards, Best Cruise Line by Conde Nast Traveller 2017, Best Private Island and Best Cruise Ships.

Photo: Disney Cruise Line

I am excited to learn all about all the unique experiences throughout all the Disney Destinations and am truly grateful to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Team for this coveted opportunity.

Please follow along for updates before my arrival in February and during my stay. I’ll be posting on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

No vacation to Walt Disney World Resort is long enough, be it 5-days or 5-weeks, in my opinion, so when we decided to return for our adventures with close family, we booked Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village for 2-weeks. The plan was to alternate Theme Park with Resort hotel days – the best of both worlds, and it worked like a charm. The benefits of staying on property are plenty, with the biggest convenience of being able to head back to your Resort hotel to relax and enjoy the unique theming, which for us was to watch an active savanna from our authentically themed main lobby or Guest Room balcony. We truly were just as excited about hanging around Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Kidani Village, as we were to tour the Theme Parks and Disney Springs. The view of the savanna from our balcony was incredible. Disney Resort hotels can easily be vacation destinations all on their own.

The best part? Andrew and his look of realization seeing the animals in their natural habitat right from our accommodations. Now that was something to see and hear about, with bursts of verbal animal identification that we didn’t know he knew.

And, this look of wonderment at The Most Magical Place on Earth, where many think it’s all about amusement parks. Well, that may be, but Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks are on another level – a level of uniqueness and immersion that magically transports you to a place where all your troubles are left behind – thanks to the creativity of talented, enthusiastic and dedicated Disney Imagineers.

For us? It’s about the entire vacation experience and all the surprises we see from Andrew. It’s about the bursts of language, the connections he makes to his beloved Disney animated movies when the Disney Characters come alive, or, when he walks into a storybook setting that he becomes a part of. This makes leaving our Disney vacation extremely difficult for fear of what we will miss upon our return home.

Such as this photo above with his buddy Buzz Lightyear, during our visit to Disney California Adventure Park, Disneyland Resort. The direct eye contact took mere seconds and Buzz had Andrew’s attention for a solid 20-minutes of fun and frolic. We can’t wait to take him to experience Radiator Springs Racers back at Disney California Adventure Park this summer, which I’m certain he’ll make the connection to his beloved Test Track attraction!

Disney Cruise Line motor coach transport is super convenient from your Walt Disney World Resort hotel, which in my case was Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort, to Port Canaveral. Doing a land stay before a Disney cruise is the ultimate vacation, combining the best of both worlds!

In this case we were on our way to our “Star Wars Day at Sea” aboard the fourth and newest ship, the Disney Fantasy.

You’re made to feel super welcome by Minnie Mouse all decked out in her sailing attire just before you board the ship. Disney Cruise Line contracted photographers on hand for those professional photos, for which the collection can be purchased onboard at “Shutters Photography”, either in individual photos, or in packages. You can even customize your cell phone case.

The best gate to a gangway at sea, Terminal 8-Disney Cruise Line at Port Canaveral. Loving those Disney Imagineering details!

Magical Guest introductions making Guests feel like royalty into the “Star Wars Day at Sea” adorned Atrium Lobby aboard the Disney Fantasy.

We have always booked verandah staterooms, but on this sailing which I booked just short of a year out, I reserved a category 8A oceanview stateroom, #5022. The best selections of staterooms are at your feet, the earlier you book. This stateroom accommodates 3 people, offers a queen bed and a single convertible sofa bed. The restroom is not the traditional “split-bath” configuration, which is an industry first for Disney Cruise Line.

Booking far out enough (usually a year) in advance, affords you the opportunity to score these coveted dining tables, called, “Teacup Tables” in Enchanted Garden, one of the three dining rooms on Disney Cruise Line’s industry first, “Rotational Dining”. The unique convenience about this dining system is that your serving team follows you on your rotation through a total of three restaurants, Enchanted Garden, Royal Court and Animator’s Palate. We, on this cruise were greatly surprised, and I’ll tell you why.

I requested a “Teacup Table”, because we greatly enjoyed ours on our previous Disney Fantasy sailing. To our great surprise, we were seated at the very same table on this sailing, and I mean the exact table number, #59. The second biggest surprise, was the photobomber …our server from our Mediterranean cruise back in July 2014 aboard the Disney Magic, Eder G. Now what are the odds of that happening! It’s Disney *pixie-dust* at work, that’s what!

Here’s what I love about dining rotation. State your needs to your serving team once and you’re taken care of for the rest of the cruise. I was on a special diet, not allowing any carbohydrates or sweets, and Eder worked with me to make my dining healthful, yet highly palatable. I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything.

Here’s what keeps us coming back…the social interactions, and spontaneous developmental bursts from my son, who has Autism. You’d never know it looking at him here playing mini golf on “Goofy’s Sports Deck”. Andrew can take you throughout the entire ship, just tell him where you want to go and follow his lead. It’s incredible!

Just when you’re involved with playing ping-pong and mini golf, a visitor strolls through for some greets!

The “AquaDuck” another Disney Cruise Line industry first. 763 feof water coastering, with a 20 foot extension over the side of the ship. This feature is found on both the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Accessible only by stairs, right into and out of the funnel, in a tandem raft.

Guests finish off in a mini lazy river allowing ample time to exit, although some, like my son like to splash about.

Are you planning a vacation to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando? Get ready for the most unique and unforgettable experience ever. For many visitors, these vacations become an annual tradition because they quickly realize they cannot see and do everything in one visit. People discover that each Disney vacation becomes a unique vacation because of the constantly evolving experiences, annual Special Events drawing in returning Guests, offering a stay at differently themed and priced Disney Resort hotels, which by the way, can be a vacation destination all on their own without even setting foot in a Walt Disney World Resort Theme Park. Factor in Disney Resort hotel Guest amenities and people are hooked for life, many of which have become Disney Vacation Club owners.

That’s not all. The Disney Vacation Planning tools far exceed anything that’s out there compared to other travel destinations. The level of control through Walt Disney World Resort’s website and My Disney Experience mobile application affords complete customization and control down to the last minute, including during one’s vacation through complimentary Resort-wide WiFi access for all Guests. If online planning is not desirable, official Disney Vacation Planners are available to help Guests plan over the telephone by calling (407) 939-5277.

Begin by visiting Disney Parks Vacation Planning Videos to watch free videos, helping you decide where to stay and how to tour. You have full control over every aspect of your vacation. If you have any questions, please head over to the official Disney Parks Moms Panel for free planning tips and advice from Disney experts who are frequent visitors and dedicated enthusiasts.

The conveniences and benefits of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel begin the moment you book, with easy to use, step by step online prompts and fun email reminders along the way making sure you optimize all there is to benefit from, before, during and even after your vacation.

May I offer my suggestions in planning your Walt Disney World Resort vacation.

Once booked, raise the level of your control of planning through MyMagic+ which will include guidance for Advanced Dining Reservations, securing FastPass+ experiences, and complete customization through My Disney Experience online and My Disney Experience mobile app. Customization and planning is fun, through the easy, step by step process, in the comfort of your own home, taking care of such details as your travel style, your budgetary considerations, and preferences.

Make Advanced Dining Reservations up to 180 days before your arrival at popular Disney Character Restaurants, Table-Service Restaurtants, Signature Dining Restaurants and Special Event Dining Restaurants.

If staying at a Disney Resort hotel and flying into Orlando International Airport, consider reserving Disney’s Magical Express complimentary transportation to your Disney Resort hotel and back at the end of your vacation. A few weeks before your arrival, you’ll receive labelled luggage tags with your resort information. Tag your bags before you leave home and you’ll find your luggage in your Disney Resort hotel room a few hours after you check-in. All you have to do upon landing at Orlando International is head over to the Disney Magical Express Welcome Center, walk up to the Cast Member manned kiosk, place your MagicBand against the Mickey Touch Point for entry into the proper Disney Resort hotel motor coach queue. If you’re an International traveller, you’ll need to have your Disney’s Magical Express Transportation Voucher with the Bar-Code Scan containing your transportation information.

Complete your Resort Online Check-In to make sure your room requests and credit card on file is accurate and complete, enabling you a speedier check-in at your Disney Resort hotel on arrival day where you’ll receive your Welcome Package.

Upon your arrival, Cast Members are available at the entrance to assist with Check-In, as well, in the lobby of your Disney Resort hotel there’s a special “Online Check-In Counter” for those Guests who took care of their Resort Online Check-In before they left home. International Guests will receive their new, complimentary MagicBands during check-in at the Front Desk.

Now it’s time to make Unforgettable Happens Here memories at the place where Magic Is Endless!

The same applies if they scrolled past your post. The brain thought process begins branching out and spiralling here and there. Oh my gosh, I didn’t get a ‘like’, what does that mean? Oh, gosh, they don’t like me anymore, they’re not following me, I’m doomed! Why did ‘X’ get so many likes? No one cares!

Not really.

It’s about someone scrolling through their newsfeed and simply not bothering because they’re scrolling. They’re not interested in ‘liking’ or ‘commenting’ right at that point, because they’re just scanning, much like reading the front page of a newspaper and then saving what you want to delve into for another time. Or, more likely, it’s because of the time of day you put up your post as traffic is higher during specific times of the day. Research that, you’ll find interesting statistics on social media ‘on-screen’ traffic patterns.

In my opinion, ‘likes’ and ‘comments’ are a form of acknowledgement with your post and the empassioned people will give you the ‘wow’ or a ‘heart’ or a ‘mad’ while for others, not so much. And, that’s okay sometimes, but not all of the time, which leads me to the part about a two-way street, being friends and reaching out once in a while, with a click of something in reaction when you want to, but are too lazy to move the mouse over and click. What is so difficult about a simple click-response to a post if you have an inclination?

And, then of course, the reason of why we have to be friends with friends of friends? What purpose does that serve other than a little social pyramid? Who does this benefit? If your intent is to be a social media friend, then it wouldn’t hurt once in a while to drag that cursor over if you have even the smallest inclination and click for the sake of reciprocity and displaying gracious behavior.

Otherwise, why are you friends? To troll? To ‘restrict’? To ‘add to another list’? Why be friends then? Because, after a while, that’s when you see those posts pop up stating ‘if you read this post please share, it means you’re paying attention’ and people stating they’re ‘cleaning house’. They’re feeling dejected because they’re taking the time to put up a status the way we all do, and want some validation in form of a click.

Admit it, you’ve felt that way at one point or another. It’s a normal reaction.

Everyone wants some form of reciprocity and validation and I believe that’s why social media is so popular. So if you become friends and then ‘unfollow’ someone, then why are you friends in the first place? This is supposed to be social, right? Exclusionary behaviour is anti-social. Think of how in real-life you move on from people that just don’t stir your pot and gravitate to those that make your day. Same idea applies to your cyber-buddies. You put yourself out there afterall, what is your reason? To be noticed, to push your brand, to be friends? All of the above?

And about those folks who are posting fabulous vacation photos, newly aquired things photos, cozy family gathered around the Christmas table photos… yes, that’s just it, those are moments of pride, jubilation and accomplishment. Even the people who post photos of their pedi’s and their lunch…they’re proud and want to share.

Some think those are people who boast, and that might be the case, but I think they boast because for them at this point in time, life is going well and they want to celebrate that. A new house, lots of travel, weight loss, a new baby, a promotion, a celebration, and the list goes on and on. Instead of us feeling like they’re bragging, or lying, what’s wrong with lifting them in celebration and being happy for them? Heck, when it’s your time to celebrate on social media, you’ll want your friends to be happy for you, right?

Right!

Furthermore, happy posts, uplifting posts happen, for the most part, because people may be trying a more positive approach to rise above daily real-life challenges and not air dirty laundry. I believe they are attempting to redirect their feelings and attitude towards a more positive direction. That would be me. People who post that they’re looking forward to something in the near future are being hopeful. They’re happy. So they’re not bragging, they’re excited and we should all be happy for them, because one day that status will be us and we’ll want the same courtesy. Why is it automatically phoney if someone posts they’re going away on vacation, or have acquired something new, or posing with family in a holiday photo? Why is that any different that those folks who write about their past year highlights in those holiday letters attached to a photo? People just want a bit of validation. That’s all.

The same applies, however, to those folks who are venting, or expressing their sadness, because in their world at this point in time they are in pain and experiencing some form of suffering. They need our support, and encouragement more than ever…and one click, could mean the world of difference to them, that took a mere second out of your scroll.

So the next time you scroll past a status and you instinctively want to click, but can’t be bothered, just do it, click and be a good social media friend.

Go ahead and smile. I know it’s forced and a conscious action right now, and may seem fake, but smile.
Keep smiling, you can do it. Smile.
There you go.

Still can’t smile? Think of something that you like, a food, an item, a place, anything. No judgements here, these are your personal thoughts. Now smile.

Even the conscious act of smiling, albeit appearing fake, has benefits for your well-being. The action evokes neurotransmitters-serotonin and dopamine to start their magic naturally without the use of anti-depressants.

Now here’s the thing, the more you consciously smile, the easier it will become and before you know it, smiling will become natural for you. Best of all, you’ll be smiling practically the whole day through. Just imagine.

Did you know that smiling helps build your immunity? Did you know that smiling evokes positive feelings leading towards a more positive outlook towards life in general? Smiling does that and we all have the capability to smile. We were designed that way.

So smile, go ahead. There you go.
Great smile by the way, you should do that more often!

Smiling will attract positive things and positive people to you. It’s a natural magnet because it breaks barriers and is a universal language. A simple smile is all it takes.

All it takes is a simple, conscious smile to help brighten your day.
That’s a good thing.

TheDisney Parks Moms Panelis an official Disney online forum where Disney travel enthusiasts with first-hand knowledge answer returning and potential Guests questions regarding Disney Parks planning. The advice and tips presented to Guests is unparalleled with the abundant depth of knowledge from first-hand experience. Panelists represent various Disney Parks destination specialties around the globe, such as Disneyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, runDisney and ESPN Wide World of Sports. As well, panelists are well versed with Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa and Adventures by Disney. Best of all, most panelists have a rich tapestry of combined destination experiences, as well as knowledge of travel with special needs family members, and multiple languages such as Spanish, Portuguese and French.

After eight years of applications, (which typically begin in September), progressing through three rounds, and a telephone interview, I was invited for a coveted spot representing the Walt Disney World Resort Specialty! I couldn’t be more grateful and pleased for this important opportunity in assisting returning and potential Disney Parks Guests with their vacation planning. This year for me will be one that I cherish every single moment of answering questions and helping people create life-long, unforgettable memories with their visits to the Walt Disney World Resort. If you’re interested in applying, check the Disney Parks Blog for official application announcements late August or early September.

My Disney Parks experience begins with over 30 visits as a Walt Disney World Resort hotel Guest at over 12 of their resort hotels and Disney Vacation Club Villas. I have celebrated each of my children’s birthdays, except 5 at Walt Disney World Resort and with Disney Cruise Line. I have stayed and played at Disneyland Resort in California and at Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa in Hawai’i. As well, I have sailed with Disney Cruise Line fleet wide on the Caribbean, and Mediterranean itineraries as a Platinum Castaway Club member with over 11 sailings.

I am officially in my “Golden Years” but in my heart I feel like a kid! In fact, my mom still tells me that I haven’t grown up yet. In the past, that used to irritate me, but now, it doesn’t phase me…because I’m happy! In my opinion, there’s always more room for joy and self-improvement and I happen to be doing just that, improving my health through the guidance and assistance of Dr. Joey Shulman from theShulman Weightloss Center as a winner of the Cityline Weightloss Challenge of Toronto’s popular morning show Cityline.

It’s a meal plan that teaches me permanent life-style eating strategies, not quick, drastic starvation techniques, but with real food, no medications, no injections, no artificial foods…just real food. I’m learning to make wise choices for what to eat and more importantly when to eat. Being in full menopause puts me in a different metabolic situation and Dr. Joey Shulman has incorporated a plan that will help me…and it works.

The food plan and mindful eating technique I follow is quite simple with all the fresh food I already have at home. Unlimited vegetables, lean protein 3x a day, 2 servings of fruit a day, 1 complex carbohydrate, 4 servings of good fats, 1 dairy, and 2 litres of water a day. I have been following that plan practically all my life, but I had mixed in some other detrimental food and eating time choices that contributed to my weight gain. Dr. Joey taught me to skim back on the excess and re-train my body. It’s working. I’m not starving. I don’t have headaches and my cravings are under full control. I am sleeping better, exercising more and I feel great! I even lost 2lbs. right after a Disney Fantasy, Star Wars Day at Sea cruise, imagine that…losing weight on a cruise!